The Olgas / Kata Tjura

The Olgas (Kata Tjuta) of Australia thrust up from the desert plain, creating a cluster of
36 tall, steep-sided rusty-red domes tightly separated by deep gorges and narrow valleys.

The Olgas
tips and insights

Taller than they seem

They are much higher than they appear in photographs. The tallest rises 348 meters
(1148 feet) above the flat desert and is appreciably higher than its regional neighbor,
Ayers Rock.

How they were carved

The Olgas' smooth surfaces were sculpted by winds over millions of years.

Colorization

They are situated about 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Ayers Rock
in Australia. Like the latter, The Olgas vividly change colors as the day
passes. At sunset, the rocks become glowing orange-tinted red. Nature puts
on a colorful show at sunrise, too.

Holy

Also like Ayers Rock, The Olgas are sacred to the local Anangu
Aborigines - and many visitors sense that spirituality.

When to go

The
best seasons for visiting The Olgas are the austral spring (September to November
) and fall (March to May). Temperatures top 40°C (104°F) in the summer (December
to February) and drop below freezing in the winter (June to August).